sales tax

American  

noun

• sales taxes
  plural

1. a tax on receipts from sales, usually added to the selling price by the seller.

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sales tax British  

noun

1. a tax levied on retail sales receipts and added to selling prices by retailers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sales taxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sales tax

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sales tax

Last year the supervisors voted to divert more than $300 million in Measure A sales tax funds from the agency to a new county homelessness department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

In November, voters will decide whether to approve a proposed half-cent county sales tax, entitled “Protect San Diego County Health and Safety Act.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

So if a venue increases prices to pay staff more, its revenues go up accordingly, and it must pay more sales tax.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

TOKYO—Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced plans to cut the sales tax on food to 1% from 8% for two years beginning in April 2027, potentially adding to market concerns about the country’s fiscal health.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Jesus—$18.95 P^us the 3 per cent sales tax which Tubs figured out would make a grand total of $19.52, the sales tax amounting to fifty-seven cents.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier